Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 288: what you’re looking at

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em eee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, —— OO —- ee 275 in haying some one to watch over her safety : for amidst all her painful thoughts, the most horrible idea was that she had suddenly passed as it were _ out of the midst of the great world into that sepul- chre of an asylum, without leaving a trace be- hind!” * And I suppose that she is most bitter and vindictive,” I said, “ against Edwin St, Clair P” “She yearns to effect her escape,’ Beda an- swered, “in order that she may accomplish some aim with which you, Miss, are acquainted, and which she has promised to explain to me.’ “ And is there any chance,” I asked, “ for Zarah to effect her escape ?” “Yes—every chance!” rejoined Beda. “In- deed, the whole scheme is settled; and it is to be put into practice this evening, provided that Cap- tain St. Clair in the meantime does not discover that I have obtained access to Zarah. But I hope and trust that there is little risk of such discovery, for the reason that I wili presently explain.” “Every additional syllable you utter, my dear Beda,” I said, “infuses fresh joy into my heart. Continue your explanations in your own way. But perhaps I may as well inform you that I just now passed by the asylum, and took a scrutinizing view of its exterior through the iron gateway.” * Ah! then you will all the more easily compre- hend the explanations which I have to give!” ex- claimed Beda. “ You have seen that the house is a small one; it is only fitted up to contain about fourteen or sixteen female lunatics; and there are not more than six or seven there at the present time. The house is handsomely furnished ; and as Doctor Beresford is paid four or five hundred pounds a year for each inmate, you may suppose that if is a profitable business, even with the limited number of patients that he now pos- sesses,” “ And particularly,” I added, “considering how unscrupulously he conducts the business, and what large fees may at times pass into his hands in the form of bribes. But continue, Beda. I am most anxious to learn what plan you have devised for poor Zarah’s escape.” “You perhaps noticed, Miss,” proceeded the faithful girl, “that there are some rooms on that side where the vines cover the walls, which have no bars ?” *Yes—I observed them,” I said: “ they have Venetian shutters.” “The same,” rejoined Beda, “But as you may suppose, it was not in one of those rooms that I found Zarah. Her chamber is well protected with iron bars. The rooms with the undefended win. dows and the Venetian blinds, are for lunatics of an entirely harmless nature, and concerning whom no apprehension of escape is entertained: whereas on the other hand Doctor and Mrs. Beresford have perhaps too good reason to know that Zarah would grasp at the slightest opportunity of flight.” * Besides,” I interjected, “it may doubtless suit their purpose to represent Zarah as a con- firmed and dangerous lunatic; so that she may be surrounded by all possible circumstances of tyranny, terrorism, and coercion.” * All this is doubtless within their calculations,” answered Beda. ‘ When I was first introduced to Zarah’s chamber this morning, the door was ocked: but before Mrs. Beresford retired, she gave me the key, bidding me secure the door in- ternally, and to be sure to keep the key about my own person. These instructions she gave aside in alow whisper. In short, my dear Miss Percy, I can calculate upon being the custodian of the key for a certain period. At about twelve o'clock some refreshments were brought up into the room by a female keeper, who was followed by Mrs. Beresford. This lady asked me if I would like to look over the house; and I at once replied that I should. I will not waste precious time by telling you anything about the lunatic inmates whom I saw: but I will hasten to explain that I found all the rooms with the Venetian blinds to be unoccupied. These are the rooms, you recol- lect, which have the windows without bars. Mrs. Beresford conversed familiarly with me; and I threw out several hints to confirm the suspicion which she and her husband had from the first entertained, to the effect that I had received special and private instructions from Captain St. Clair with reference to Zarah’s treatment. Be- fore I parted from Mrs. Beresford, after going over the house, I casually remarked that I should presently be compelled to go up into London to fetch some little things which I had forgotten to bring with me in my boxes; and Mrs. Beresford showed me a bell-pullin the passage, so that I might always summon one of the female keepers —or nurses, by the bye, as they are called—to occupy my place with Zarah when I wished to absent myself. On again being alone with Zarah, I communicated to her the fact that all the rooms with the Venetian blinds were untenanted.” “ And now I begin to comprehend,” I said, “ the plan of escape. Is it not to watch a fayour- able opportunity to issue from the chamber with the barred windows,—you fortunately being the holder of the key,—to pass into one of the rooms with the Venetian blinds, and thence effect your egress by the window P” “ Such is the project,” answered Beda: “ but it will not be unattended with risk and danger. At the summit of the staircase, on every landing, there is a door which is kept fast locked. If 1 wish to issue forth from Zarah’s chamber, I must ring the bell in the landing to summon the nurse to open the door at the head of the staircase. Thus, you see, all the occupants of rooms on each particular floor are confined to that floor itself ; for even if their doors be open, they can neither ascend to the floor above, nor descend to the one below, without the aid of a nurse to open the mas- sive doors on the landing.” * T understand, Beda. On what floor is Zarah’s chamber ?” I inquired. “On the second floor,’ replied Beda; “ and therefore you perceive that on issuing from her chamber, we must penetrate into one of the two rooms with the Venetian windows which are on the same floor. It will be a height of at least thirty-five feet from which we shall have to descend; and herein exists the danger. But Zarah quails not thereat; and as for myself, I would dare it were it twice the height.” “You are a brave girl, Beda,” I said; “and as for Zarah, she is far from being deficient in courage. What more haye you to tell me ?” “The length of time occupied by Mrs. Beresford in showing me over the house,” continued Beda, EOMMG 0)(0)(6) ce ere eg ag i CE - ses“ ms ge, TO LL LL EAL LL A ES TT LL Sj Com